Flakes of natural carbyne in a diamond mine Original Research Article

Flakes of natural carbyne were found in Liao-Ning diamond mine, China, and examined by HRTEM, XRD and EDX. Lattice fringes and clear SAD patterns were obtained. The interlayer spacings obtained with SAD were in good agreement with those determined on the powders found in Ries crater meteorite by X-ray diffraction. However, they are different in color and shape, the one found in China being black and flaky, but the one in Ries crater meteorite being silver-white and particulate. It was assumed that carbyne might be stabilized by the intercalation of either Si or Fe in nature.